Messi Denied Late Heroics as Inter Miami Held by Al Ahly in Club World Cup Opener

MIAMI — A near-capacity crowd at Hard Rock Stadium was primed for a signature Lionel Messi moment. Instead, they were reminded that in football’s new global experiment—the reimagined FIFA Club World Cup—scripts don’t always go to plan.

Inter Miami’s opener in FIFA’s ambitious 32-team Club World Cup ended in a scoreless draw against Cairo giants Al Ahly, as Messi’s curling, stoppage-time strike was spectacularly pushed onto the crossbar by goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy. The Argentine maestro had come within inches of a perfect debut in the tournament’s first fixture.

“I thought it was in,” Messi said post-match. “But that’s football. Their keeper had a great night.”

The result offered an unexpected early twist to FIFA’s revamped tournament, which President Gianni Infantino has touted as a transformative “World Cup for clubs.” Saturday’s curtain-raiser brought 60,927 fans through the turnstiles, with significant pockets—estimated at over 10,000—chanting for Al Ahly, the most decorated club in African football history.

A Showcase Without a Goal

Despite the scoreline, the match was anything but stagnant. Al Ahly pressed aggressively in the first half, exposing defensive gaps in the MLS side and winning a penalty in the 27th minute after Telasco Segovia clumsily brought down Zizo. But Egypt international Trezeguet saw his tame effort saved by Oscar Ustari, who guessed correctly and dived to his right.

Emam Ashour and Wessam Abou Ali repeatedly found space between Miami’s midfield lines. Abou Ali, the Palestine international raised in Denmark, had a goal disallowed for offside and a venomous strike pushed over by Ustari in a productive first half for the African side.

For Inter Miami, it was a tale of two halves. Coach Gerardo Martino’s squad emerged stronger after the interval. Messi, who had been tightly marked throughout, began finding pockets of space. A 64th-minute free-kick from the Argentine clipped the outside of the post, drawing gasps from the stands.

The climax nearly arrived in added time when Messi received a short corner just outside the box, cut inside on his left foot, and curled the ball toward the far post. El Shenawy, whose stock has quietly risen in recent international competitions, extended fully to tip the shot onto the bar—preserving the deadlock and denying what would have been a viral tournament moment.

A Test Run for FIFA’s New Era

While the football may not have delivered goals, Saturday night offered a largely successful logistical rollout for FIFA’s Club World Cup overhaul. Concerns about ticketing, security, and stadium atmosphere—particularly after chaotic scenes marred the 2024 Copa America final at the same venue—were largely unfounded.

Fans arrived early, and enhanced perimeter checks appeared to smooth entry. The venue, typically home to the NFL’s Miami Dolphins, transformed into a carnival of football cultures—from Egyptian flags to Messi jerseys, and the occasional Flamengo or Al Hilal scarf from wandering neutrals.

Critics, however, remain unconvinced about the tournament’s necessity, especially in a calendar already saturated with club and international obligations. The new format, running June to July and concluding with a final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, pits continental champions and wild-card invitees in a Champions League-style contest. Supporters call it overdue globalization. Detractors argue it is commercialization cloaked in reform.

What’s Next

Inter Miami will regroup quickly, with a critical Group A match against Portugal’s FC Porto scheduled for Thursday in Atlanta. The group concludes with a home fixture against Brazil’s Palmeiras—favorites to top the table.

For Al Ahly, the draw feels like a statement. Long a dominant force in Africa, they now appear eager to test their mettle against the world’s best on equal footing. We played without fear,” said Al Ahly head coach Marcel Koller. This tournament is a chance to show that African football belongs on this stage.

Whether it’s a historic pivot or an expensive detour, FIFA’s Club World Cup 2.0 is underway—with Lionel Messi already playing a leading role, even when the goalposts conspire against him.

Last Updated on April 7, 2026 by Samuel Kwame Boadu

Samuel Kwame Boadu

Samuel Kwame Boadu is a Ghanaian media entrepreneur and storyteller with a passion for amplifying urban voices and uncovering everyday truths. He is the Editor-in-Chief and Founder of Accra Street Journal, a dynamic digital platform dedicated to capturing the pulse of Ghana’s capital—its people, culture, challenges, business, sports and innovations.

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